Tuesday, 8 February 2022

Mirco Angelovski

Ms HALFPENNY (Thomastown) (15:41): I would like to pay tribute to Mirco Angelovski, a great man who I was lucky enough for my part to call a friend. Sadly Mirco passed away on Friday, 14 January, at the young age of 59. He was a passionate and loyal advocate for Macedonian Australians, holding many positions and roles, including president of the Macedonian Orthodox Community of Melbourne and Victoria. He was a man of generosity, strength and vision.

The Macedonian cultural centre in Epping was Mirco’s vision—a centre that would display, preserve and teach Macedonian culture and identity for years to come. I worked with Mirco to secure a Victorian government multicultural capital grant of $300 000 to help build the centre. This was the first multicultural grant that the Macedonian community in Victoria had ever received. The fact that the application was successful was a credit to Mirco, our advocacy together and the professionalism and hard work that went into the extensive application, and for that part I must also acknowledge Mirco’s fellow committee members, Vasko Nastevski and John Branov. The cultural centre was indeed part of Mirco’s legacy. I commend his hard work and tenacity, which will be a benefit to present and future generations.

On a personal level, I miss Mirco for his humour and commitment. I am also forever in his debt for the advice, contacts and knowledge he gave me to prepare for my wonderful trip to Macedonia in 2016. My sincerest condolences to Mirco’s wife, Vesna, and his sons, Hristijan and Stefan.